Three Days Later

Happy April Fools' Day... hahaha.

News report from Otto—

[Regarding the bombing at Vision Corporation's Canvas Harbor site, the Cunning Hares have accepted a commission to file suit on behalf of all residents.]

[Belobog Heavy Industries, which lost the original bid, has taken over the reconstruction. Its president, Koleda, said, "Belobog Heavy Industries will finish the job in three months."]

[The Public Security Department has issued a bounty notice, calling for information on whoever defeated the Dead End Butcher.]

A video store on Sixth Street.

Morning light slipped through the blinds, cutting golden stripes across the table.

Wise sat at the dining table eating toast, a glass of milk before him. His attention, though, was fixed on the television.

"Yawn—morning, dumb big brother."

Belle shuffled down from the second floor in her pajamas, her hair a mess and her eyes heavy with sleep.

She reached the table, snatched Wise's milk without a word, and tipped her head back to drain it. Then she puffed out her chest, proudly showing off.

A glass of milk for breakfast, and small assets became big ones.

Wise scowled. "Hey, sis! Yours is in the fridge!"

No matter how pretty Belle was, whether she looked sophisticated or sweet—

To him, she was always the Dead End Butcher in makeup, or Ruhua.

That was how every big brother saw his little sister. This wasn't Yosuga no Sora!

"Nope. Too lazy."

Belle yawned after finishing the milk and rejected his suggestion as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

She set the glass on the table, wandered off to wash up, then dug a bag of chips out of the snack cupboard and curled up on the sofa, crunching away.

The news continued to cycle on the television.

Construction crews from Belobog Heavy Industries had already moved into the Canvas Harbor area. The screen showed a hive of activity.

"Nicole really is something."

Belle watched the screen, her mouth full of chips, and spoke indistinctly.

"Hundreds of letters of authorization, and she accepted them just like that. But can she win a lawsuit against a corporation?"

"Hope she does."

Wise shrugged and popped the rest of his toast into his mouth.

If Nicole won, she could finally pay off what she owed them. Wise paused, then glanced toward the stairs.

"Griseo still isn't awake? She's been asleep for... thirty-seven hours now, hasn't she?"

"No." Belle shook her head and crunched another chip. "But Fairy checked her. Her vital signs are perfectly healthy. She probably just exhausted herself. Don't worry."

Belle sounded breezy and unconcerned, but she couldn't hide the worry in her eyes from the brother who had known her all his life.

Wise didn't call her on it. After all, the mess they'd gotten into this time really was enormous.

On Nicole's end, the Cunning Hares were going head-to-head with Vision Corporation—a company aiming to join the TOPS Financial Alliance within five years.

They had impersonated the Public Security Department, transported explosives, and treated human lives as disposable... Who would believe they didn't have someone powerful backing them?

On his end, the Dead End Butcher had been defeated and Dead End Hollow cleared.

And throughout it all, no official organization—the Public Security Department, the Hollow Operations Section, or the Defense Force—had stepped in.

After all, Hoshimi Miyabi, hailed as the youngest Void Hunter, had earned her commendation for eliminating Argos Hollow.

So what Griseo had done was no small matter.

The one thing Wise was grateful for was Griseo's appearance. Who would believe a girl barely in her teens had the strength of a Void Hunter?

Wise looked away, then glanced at the quiet bedroom door upstairs. I hope Fairy sealed off the information thoroughly.

"Oh, right! Big brother, could you take over for a bit in a few days? I'm taking Griseo to Jia Yin's concert." Belle had suddenly remembered the two tickets Yao Jiayin had given her at Star Ring.

"Sure." Wise nodded. They really were due for a break.

While the two of them chatted about their time off at the video store, certain organizations in New Eridu were doing exactly what Wise feared...

New Eridu. Inside a luxurious, exclusive manor.

The classical architecture spoke of a long history, while its elegant, lavish decor reflected its owner's extraordinary taste.

The members of Victoria Housekeeping had gathered in the reception hall. The maids looked toward the head of the table, where the Wolf Thiren Lycaon sat.

The wolf butler led Victoria Housekeeping and served as a blade in the mayor of New Eridu's hand.

Seated gracefully at the head of the conference table, Lycaon addressed his companions. "Our current assignment is to identify whoever defeated the Dead End Butcher. Does anyone have any leads?"

Two members of the team were minors, but he still looked forward to their suggestions.

The first response he got, however, was a faint snore.

Lycaon turned. Ellen, the Shark Thiren, was curled up asleep in her chair, her enormous shark tail tucked around her.

"Ellen? Wake up. We're having a meeting!"

Lycaon tried to wake her. The results weren't nonexistent, exactly, but they were close.

At least Ellen rolled over.

Is high school in New Eridu really that demanding? Lycaon wondered. Ellen did attend classes by day and work during her free time.

"M-Mr. Lycaon?"

A soft voice spoke up. It belonged to the other underage maid, Corin.

"What is it, Corin?" Lycaon asked.

"I have some information about whoever defeated the Dead End Butcher." Corin raised her right hand.

"On the day of the Vision Corporation bombing, a Bangboo investigator saved me. There was also a little girl and a Cat Thiren."

"A Bangboo investigator?" Lycaon frowned slightly. Does the Defense Force have that technology now?

"The Cat Thiren was one of the Cunning Hares members on TV."

Lycaon's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected to get two leads at once!

"Sorry for the wait, everyone. Come try my new dish—Stargazy Pie."

Rina, the gentle head maid, called softly from the kitchen.

"Mr. Lycaon, now that you have a lead, why not eat first?"

"Rina, did you say your new dish is Stargazy Pie?"

Looking at Rina's smile in the kitchen doorway, Lycaon had a gut feeling: death was calling his name.

Rina's cooking, and her "signature dishes"...

No matter how hard Lycaon tried to talk himself into it, he simply couldn't bring himself to take that step.

"Don't worry. I prepared thoroughly this time!" Rina assured him with complete confidence.

"How did you learn to make it?" Lycaon asked curiously.

"Why, I cleared every level of the game," Rina announced proudly.

"So you're saying..." Lycaon's voice sounded a little dry. "By 'mastering it,' you mean you beat a game and learned the theory?"

Rina tilted her head, her smile as gentle as ever.

Lycaon was speechless. He glanced toward the corner and saw that Ellen had quietly opened one eye at some point. She was peeking over at them.

The instant Ellen met Lycaon's gaze, she shuddered, shut her eye again, and began snoring even louder.

"..."

Lycaon understood. It wasn't that Ellen couldn't be woken. She didn't dare wake up.